Combination headlight-dimming and spotlight-controlling means



Oct. 27, 1925 G. H. HEMPHILL.

COMBINATION HEADLIGHT DIMMING AND SPOTLIGHT CONTROLLING MEANS FiledSept. 15, 1923 FIG.3

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GROVER H. HEMIHIIIL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

COMBINATION EEADLIGHT-DI'MIVEENG Application filed September To all whomit may concern;

Be it known that I, Gnovnn H. l-licrrrr-rILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CombinationHeadlight-Dimming and Spotlight-Controlling Means, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination headlight dimmer and spot-lightcontrol, and has more particular reference to a device for automaticallyturning on the spotlight when the headlights of an automobile have beendimmed a desired amount.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a simple, compactand economical foot-controlled device for introducing variableresistance in the headlight circuit of an automobile, said deviceincluding means for closing the spot light circuit at a predeterminedtime in the dimming operation.

It is another object of my invention to provide means for locking thedimmer con trol in a predetermined position, so that after theheadlights have been dimmed a desired degree, they will remain so untilthe locking means have been disengaged.

It is still another object of my invention to provide graduated meansfor enabling one to so set the spot-light control mechanism that thespot light circuit will be closed by the dimming device at apredetermined point in its travel.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevational view of the dimming device and spot light control, withone side of the resistance-containing casing removed. Figure 2 is an endview of the device, partly in section and partly broken away to revealthe operating mechanism. And Figure 3 is a wiring diagram illustratingthe operation of my device.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts.

In a detailed description of the form of embodiment of my inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates asuitable metallic casing which is preferably rectangular in crosssection and closed at one side by a removable plate 2. (See Figures 1and 2.) Secured by screws 3 to the rear wall of the casing 1 is a ANDSPOTLIGHT-CONTROLLING MEANS.

15, 1923. Serial N0. 863,010.

resistance ring member 4E around which is wound helically-disposed wireThe wire is so wound upon the ring member 1 as to leave a circular inneredge for engagement by the outer end or a radial contact lever G whichterminates at its inner end in a hub portion 7. The latter is firmlysecured by a screw 8 to a shaft 9 whose rear end projects through anaxial hole in a conical boss 10 on the interior of the ring memberSecured to the extreme rcarend of said shaft is a collar 11 which actswith the hub portion 7 of the contact arm 6 to hold the shaft in saidboss.

The conical boss 10 of the ring member terminates at its outer end in areduced cylindrical part 12. Between the latter and the hub portion ofthe contact arm 6, there loose y fitted on the shaft 9 the enlarged eyeend 13 of a stationary contact arm 14 whose outer end is turned forattachment by a screw 15 to the annular wall of the resistance ringmember 4. The lat-,

ter, while it is made of bakelite, may be constructed of any othersuitable insulating material.

Each end of the helical wire 5 is connected to a metallic terminalpiece, the upper one being designated by the numeral 16: and the lowerone by the numeral 1?. (See Figure 1.) The screw 15 projects through theterminal piece 16 to receive on its outer end two binding nuts 18, 18that clamp between them one end of a wire 19, the other end of which isconnected to a screw 20 that projects through a hole in the end wall 21of the casing. Between the head of the screw and said end wall is acollar 22 and an insulating washer 23, a similar washer 24 and collar 25being placed on the outer end of said screw between the end wall 21 ofthe casing and two binding nuts 26, 26 on the extreme outer end 01 thescrew. These binding nuts receive between them a wire 27 that leads to abattery 28. (See Figures 1 and 3.)

Projecting through a hole in the annular wall of the rack 4. and theterminal piece 17 of the spring, is a screw 29 which receives on itsouter end two binding nuts 30, 30. The latter receive between them oneend of a wire 31 whose other end is connected to a screw 32 thatprojects through a hole in the end wall 21 of the casing a shortdistance below .the screw 20. Between the head of the screw 32 and saidend wall is a collar 33 and an insulating washer 34,

a similar washer 35 and collar 36 being placed on the outer end of saidscrew between the end wall 21 of the casing and two binding nuts 37 37on the extreme outer end of the screw. The latter binding nuts receivebetween them a wire 38 which leads to a wire 39 connecting twoheadlights 40, 40 that are gr)ounded to the frame. (See Figures 1 and 3.

For the purpose of introducing in the headlight circuit the resistanceof the wire in variable amounts, the following means are provided forrotating the contact arm 6 to engage said wire at different points.Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is fixedly secured to the outer endof the shaft 9 a pinion 41 which is engaged by the rack portion 42 of avertically movable bar 43 i that terminates in its upper end in amushfgroom-shaped head 44. This bar projects downwardly through a holein the floor board 45 of an automobile, and thence ithrough a hole inthe top and lower wall of Zthe casing 1 which is secured to said floor25 iboard by screws 46, 46 and nuts 47, 47 on ithem. Surrounding theupper end of the bar 43 between its head 44 and the floor board 45, is ahelical spring 48 to return said bar to its normal position after it hasbeen de pressed.

By applying the pressure of his foot to the head 44 of the bar 43, thedriver may force the latter downwardly to turn the contact arm 6 byvirtue of the engagement of the rack portion of the said bar with thepinion 41 which is fast on the same shaft 9 that rotates the arm 6. Thegreater distance the bar 43 is depressed, the farther the outer end ofthe contact arm 6 will travel over the wire 5, thereby lengthening theheadlight circuit by an amount that corresponds to the distance on thewire 5 between the outer end of the contact arm 6 and the terminal.piece 17 of the wire. The wire 5 will then introduce into the headlightcircuit for the purpose of dimming the lights, a resistance which is inproportion to the distance of travel of the outer end of the contact arm6 over it.

For the purpose of locking the bar 43 against upward movement when ithas been depressed to dim the headlights a desired amount, said bar isnotched on one side to provide ledges 49 that are adapted to engage theunder side of the top wall of the casing when the bar is shiftedlaterally by the foot. It may be easily disengaged therefrom by forcingit in the other direction by a lateral shift or kick of the foot. Theledges 49 may be so located on the bar 43 that the headlights may be setto receive four, siX or any other number of amperes of current.

For the purpose of automatically turning I on a spot-light 50 when theheadlights 40,

.tfi llave been dimmed a desired amount, the

following means are provided. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there issecured to the bottom of the casing 1 by means of a screw 51 and nut 52,or in any other suitable manner, an insulating block 53. Secured to theinner portion of the latter, with its head resting in a countersunkportion thereof, is a downwardly projecting screw 54. Attached to thelower end of this screw, and pressed against the bottom of theinsulating block 53 by a washer that is engaged by the inner one of twobinding nuts 56, 56 on the screw, is the horizontal end of a metal strip57 which is curved upwardly and then downwardly, terminating in avertical portion that is parallel and close to the plane of movement ofthe lower end of the bar 43:

This vertical portion of the strip 57 contains a longitudinal slot 58 inwhich there are free to move, two screws 59, 59 attached to a beveledcontact piece 60 that is adapted to be engaged by the beveled lower endof the bar 43. Connected to the screw 54 between'the binding nuts 56, 56is one end of a wire 61 that leads to the spot light 50, so that whenthe contact piece 60 is engaged by the lower end of the bar 43, acircuit will be closed by it from the battery 28 to the spot light 50for the purpose of illuminating the the latter. (See Figures 1 and 3.)

The contact piece 60 is free to be moved along the strip 57 so that itmay be engaged by the bar 43 at any desired time during the headlightdimming operations. Numerals designating amperes such as S, 6 and 4,.may be placed on one side of the strip 57 to denote points into registrywith which an indicator 62 on the contact piece 60 ma be brought. Theyserve to indicate to the operator at just what point the contact piece60 should be located if it is desired to have the spot-light turned onwhen the headlights start to receive a certain current amperage. Forexample, if the indicator 62 is in registry with the numeral 6 0n thestrip 57, it will denote that the contact piece 60 is in a position tobe engaged by the bar 43 when the contact arm 6 travels to the positiondesignated by the numeral 6 opposite the wire 5 on the periphery of thering member 4; in other words, that the spot-light 50 will beilluminated when the current delivered to the headlights 40, 40 isreduced to six amperes. Any desired numerals designating amperes may beplaced alike on the strip 57 and resistance ring member 4 as illustratedin Figure 1, and also upon the bar 43 opposite the ledges 49. In thefirst instance they will indicate the position of the contact piece 60and contact arm 6 for a desired amperage; and in the second instancethey will show when to lock the bar 43 for the maintenance of thatamperage.

It will thus be seen that by the use of my improved device, variableresistance may not only be introduced in the headlight circuit, but thata spot light may be automatically turned on at a desired point in thedimming operation, said device including locking means for maintainingthe current delivered to the headlights at a desired amperage.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction andarrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or modificationsmay be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. if dimmer rheostat comprising a resist ance winding, a contactmovable along said resistance winding, means for shifting said contactto different positions on said winding, and an electrical adjustablecontact adapted to be engaged by the shifting means for the firstcontact when the latter is at a desired point on the resistance winding.

2. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, 1 ring member of insulatingmaterial secured therein, a resistance winding onv the ring member, acontact arm pivoted at the center of the ring member for engagement withthe resistance winding, a longitudinally movable member for moving thecontact arm around said winding, and an adjustable electrical contactsecured to the casing for engagement by one end of said longitudinallymovable member at a desired point in the travel of the contact armaround said resistance winding.

3. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, a ring member of insulatingmaterial secured therein, a resistance winding on the ring member, ashaft journaled at the center of the ring member, a contact arm fixedlysecured to said shaft for engagement with said winding, a pinion on saidshaft, a bar longitudinally movable through said casing and having atoothed portion for engage ment with said pinion to rotate the contactarm, a strip secured to said casing, corresponding indications on saidstrip and the ring member, and an electrical contact piece adjustablysecured to said strip for movement to an indication thereon forengagement by one end of said bar at the time the contact arm isopposite the corresponding indication on the ring member.

4. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, a ring member of insulatingmaterial secured therein, a resistance winding on said ring member, ashaft at the center of the latter, a contact arm fixedly secured to saidshaft for engagement with said resistance winding, a pinion on saidshaft, a bar longitudinally name through said casing and having atoothed portion for engagement with said pinion to rotate the contactarm, indications on said ring member, opposite which said contact arm isadapted to be brought, a head for said bar, a helical spring surroundingthe latter between its head and the casing, and ledges formed on saidbar corresponding to the indications on said ring member, and adapted toengage said casing to hold the contact arm in a stationary positionafter it has been brought to a selected indication on said ring member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day ofSeptember, 1923.

GROVER H. HEMPHILL.

